asked the apes by signs to whom the palace belonged, they answered him
by signals, "'Of a truth this place belonged of yore to our lord
Solomon, son of David (on both of whom be peace!), who used to come
hither once every year for his solace, and then wend his ways.'
Presently the apes continued, 'And know, O King, that thou art become
our Sultan and we are thy servants; so eat and drink, and whatso thou
ever bid us, that will we do.' So saying, they severally kissed the
earth between the hands of Janshah and all took their departure. The
Prince slept that night on the throne and his men on the stools about
him, and on the morrow, at daybreak, the four Wazirs or Captains of the
apes presented themselves before him, attended by their troops, who
ranged themselves about him, rank after rank, until the place was
crowded. Then the Wazirs approached and exhorted him by signs to do
justice amongst them and rule them righteously; after which the apes
cried out to one another and went away, all save a small party which
remained in presence to serve him. After awhile, there came up a
company of apes with huge dogs in the semblance of horses, each wearing
about his head a massive chain; and signed to Janshah and his three
followers to mount and go with them. So they mounted, marvelling at the
greatness of the dogs, and rode forth, attended by the four Wazirs and
a host of apes like swarming locusts, some riding on dogs and others
afoot till they came to the sea-shore. Janshah looked for the boat
which brought him and finding it scuttled turned to the Wazirs and
asked how this had happened to it; whereto they answered, 'Know, O
King, that, when thou camest to our island, we kenned that thou wouldst
be Sultan over us and we feared lest ye all flee from us, in our
absence; and embark in the boat, so we sank it.' When Janshah heard
this, he turned to his Mamelukes and said to them, 'We have no means of
escaping from these apes, and we must patiently await the ordinance of
the Almighty.' Then they fared on inland and ceased not faring till
they came to the banks of a river, on whose other side rose a high
mountain, whereon Janshah saw a multitude of Ghuls. So he turned to the
apes and asked them, 'What are these Ghuls?' and they answered, 'Know,
O King, that these Ghuls are our mortal foes and we come hither to do
battle with them.' Janshah marvelled to see them riding horses, and was
startled at the vastness of their bulk and the strangeness of their
semblance; for some of them had heads like bulls and others like
camels. As soon as the Ghuls espied the army of the apes, they charged
down to the river bank and standing there, fell to pelting them with
stones as big as maces; and between them there befell a sore fight.
Presently, Janshah, seeing that the Ghuls were getting the better of
the apes, cried out to his men, saying, 'Unease your bows and arrows
and shoot at them your best shafts and keep them off from us.' They did
so and slew of the Ghuls much people, when there fell upon them sore
dismay and they turned to flee; but the apes, seeing Janshah's prowess,
forded the river and headed by their Sultan chased the Ghuls, killing
many of them in the pursuit, till they reached the high mountain where
they disappeared. And while exploring the said mountain Janshah found a
tablet of alabaster, whereon was written, 'O thou who enterest this
land, know that thou wilt become Sultan over these apes and that from
them there is no escape for thee, except by the passes that run east
and west through the mountains. If thou take the eastern pass, thou
wilt fare through a country swarming with Ghuls and wild beasts, Marids
and Ifrits, and thou wilt come, after three months' journeying, to the
ocean which encompasseth the earth; but, if thou travel by the western
pass, it will bring thee, after four months' journeying, to the head of
the Wady of Emmets.[FN#541] When thou hast followed the road, that
leads through this mountain, ten days,' "—And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Janshah read this
much upon the tablet and found, at the end of the inscription, "'Then
thou wilt come to a great river, whose current is so swift that it
blindeth the eyes. Now this river drieth up every Sabbath,[FN#542] and
on the opposite bank lies a city wholly inhabited by Jews, who the
faith of Mohammed refuse; there is not a Moslem among the band nor is
there other than this city in the land. Better therefore lord it over
the apes, for so long as thou shalt tarry amongst them they will be
victorious over the Ghuls. And know also that he who wrote this tablet
was the lord Solomon, son of David (on both be peace!).' When Janshah
read these words, he wept sore and repeated them to his men. Then they
mounted again and, surrounded by the army of the apes who were
rejoicing in their victory, returned to the castle. Here Janshah abode,
Sultaning over them, for a year and a half. And at the end of this
time, he one day commanded the ape-army to mount and go forth a hunting
with him, and they rode out into the woods and wilds, and fared on from
place to place, till they approached the Wady of Emmets, which Janshah
knew by the description of it upon the alabaster tablet. Here he bade
them dismount and they all abode there, eating and drinking a space of
ten days, after which Janshah took his men apart one night and said, 'I
purpose we flee through the Valley of Emmets and make for the town of
the Jews; it may be Allah will deliver us from these apes and we will
go God's ways.' They replied, 'We hear and we obey:' so he waited till
some little of the night was spent then, donning his armour and girding
his sword and dagger and such like weapons, and his men doing likewise,
they set out and fared on westwards till morning. When the apes awoke
and missed Janshah and his men, they knew that they had fled. So they
mounted and pursued them, some taking the eastern pass and others that
which led to the Wady of Emmets, nor was it long before the apes came
in sight of the fugitives, as they were about to enter the valley, and
hastened after them. When Janshah and his men saw them, they fled into
the Emmet-valley; but the apes soon overtook them and would have slain
them, when behold, there rose out of the earth a multitude of ants like
swarming locusts, as big as dogs, and charged home upon the apes. They
devoured many of their foes, and these also slew many of the ants; but
help came to the emmets: now an ant would go up to an ape and smite him
and cut him in twain, whilst ten apes could hardly master one ant and
bear him away and tear him in sunder. The sore battle lasted till the
evening but the emmets were victorious. In the gloaming Janshah and his
men took to flight and fled along the sole of the Wady."—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Fifth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "in the gloaming
Janshah and his men took to flight and fled along the sole of the Wady
till the morning. With the break of day, the apes were up and at them,
which when the Prince saw, he shouted to his men, 'Smite with your
swords.' So they bared their blades and laid on load right and left,
till there ran at them an ape, with tusks like an elephant, and smote
one of the Mamelukes and cut him in sunder. Then the apes redoubled
upon Janshah and he fled with his followers into the lower levels of
the valley, where he saw a vast river and by its side a mighty army of
ants. When the emmets espied Janshah they pushed on and surrounded him,
and one of the slaves fell to smiting them with his sword and cutting
them in twain; whereupon the whole host set upon him and slew him. At
this pass, behold, up came the apes from over the mountain and fell in
numbers upon Janshah; but he tore off his clothes and, plunging into
the river, with his remaining servant, struck out for the middle of the
stream. Presently, he caught sight of a tree on the other bank; so he
swam up to it and laying hold of one of its branches, hung to it and
swung himself ashore, but as for the last Mameluke the current carried
him away and dashed him to pieces against the mountain. Thereupon
Janshah fell to wringing his clothes and spreading them in the sun to
dry, what while there befell a fierce fight between the apes and the
ants, until the apes gave up the pursuit and returned to their own
land. Meanwhile, Janshah, who abode alone on the river-bank, could do
naught but shed tears till nightfall, when he took refuge in a cavern
and there passed the dark hours, in great fear and feeling desolate for
the loss of his slaves. At daybreak awaking from his sleep he set out
again and fared on nights and days, eating of the herbs of the earth,
till he came to the mountain which burnt like fire, and thence he made
the river which dried up every Sabbath. Now it was a mighty stream and
on the opposite bank stood a great city, which was the capital of the
Jews mentioned in the tablet. Here he abode till the next Sabbath, when
the river dried up and he walked over to the other side and entered the
Jew city, but saw none in the streets. So he wandered about till he
came to the door of a homestead, which he opened and entering, espied
within the people of the house sitting in silence and speaking not a
syllable. Quoth he, 'I am a stranger and anhungered;' and they signed
to him, as to say, 'Eat and drink, but speak not.'[FN#543] So he ate
and drank and slept that night and, when morning dawned, the master of
the house greeted him and bade him welcome and asked him, 'Whence
comest thou and whither art thou bound?' At these words Janshah wept
sore and told him all that had befallen him and how his father was King
of Kabul; whereat the Jew marvelled and said, 'Never heard we of that
city, but we have heard from the merchants of the caravans that in that
direction lieth a land called Al-Yaman.' 'How far is that land from
this place?' asked Janshah, and the Jew answered, 'The Cafilah
merchants pretend that it is a two years and three months' march from
their land hither.' Quoth Janshah, 'And when doth the caravan come?'
Quoth the Jew, 'Next year 'twill come.' "—And Shahrazed perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Jew was
questioned anent the coming of the caravan, he replied, "'Next year
'twill come.' At these words the Prince wept sore and fell a-sorrowing
for himself and his Mamelukes; and lamenting his separation from his
mother and father and all which had befallen him in his wanderings.
Then said the Jew, 'O young man, do not weep, but sojourn with us till
the caravan shall come, when we will send thee with it to thine own
country.' So he tarried with the Jew two whole months and every day he
went out walking in the streets for his solace and diversion. Now it
chanced one day, whilst he paced about the main thoroughfares, as of
wont, and was bending his steps right and left, he heard a crier crying
aloud and saying, 'Who will earn a thousand gold pieces and a slave-
girl of surpassing beauty and loveliness by working for me between
morning and noontide?' But no one answered him and Janshah said in his
mind, 'Were not this work dangerous and difficult, he would not offer a
thousand diners and a fair girl for half a day's labour.' Then he
accosted the crier and said, 'I will do the work;' so the man carried
him to a lofty mansion where they found one who was a Jew and a
merchant, seated on an ebony chair, to whom quoth the crier, standing
respectfully before him, 'O merchant, I have cried every day these
three months, and none hath answered, save this young man.' Hearing his
speech the Jew welcomed Janshah, led him into a magnificent
sitting-room and signalled to bring food. So the servants spread the
table and set thereon all manner meats, of which the merchant and
Janshah ate, and washed their hands. Then wine was served up and they
drank; after which the Jew rose and bringing Janshah a purse of a
thousand diners and a slave-girl of rare beauty, said to him, 'Take
maid and money to thy hire.' Janshah took them and seated the girl by
his side when the trader resumed, 'To-morrow to the work!'; and so
saying he withdrew and Janshah slept with the damsel that night. As
soon as it was morning, the merchant bade his slaves clothe him in a
costly suit of silk whenas he came out of the Hammam-Bath. So they did
as he bade them and brought him back to the house, whereupon the
merchant called for harp and lute and wine and they drank and played
and made merry till the half of the night was past, when the Jew
retired to his Harim and Janshah lay with his slave-girl till the dawn.
Then he went to the bath and on his return, the merchant came to him
and said, 'Now I wish thee to do the work for me.' 'I hear and obey,'
replied Janshah. So the merchant bade his slaves bring two she- mules
and set Janshah on one, mounting the other himself. Then they rode
forth from the city and fared on from morn till noon, when they made a
lofty mountain, to whose height was no limit. Here the Jew dismounted,
ordering Janshah to do the same; and when he obeyed the merchant gave
him a knife and a cord, saying, 'I desire that thou slaughter this
mule.' So Janshah tucked up his sleeves and skirts and going up to the
mule, bound her legs with the cord, then threw her and cut her throat;
after which he skinned her and lopped off her head and legs and she
became a mere heap of flesh. Then said the Jew, 'Slit open the mule's
belly and enter it and I will sew it up on thee. There must thou abide
awhile and whatsoever thou seest in her belly, acquaint me therewith.'
So Janshah slit the mule's belly and crept into it, whereupon the
merchant sewed it up on him and withdrew to a distance,"—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Seventh Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the merchant
sewed up the mule's belly on Janshah and, withdrawing to a distance,
hid himself in the skirts of the mountain. After a while a huge bird
swooped down on the dead mule and snatching it up, flew up with it to
the top of the mountain, where it set down the quarry and would have
eaten it; but Janshah, feeling the bird begin to feed, slit the mule's
belly and came forth. When the bird saw him, it took fright at him and
flew right away; whereupon he stood up and looking right and left, saw
nothing but the carcasses of dead men, mummied by the sun, and
exclaimed, 'There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah,
the Glorious, the Great!' Then he looked down the precipice and espied
the merchant standing at the mountain-foot, looking for him. As soon as
the Jew caught sight of him, he called out to him, 'Throw me down of
the stones which are about thee, that I may direct thee to a way
whereby thou mayst descend.' So Janshah threw him down some two hundred
of the stones, which were all rubies,[FN#544] chrysolites and other
gems of price; after which he called out to him, saying, 'Show me the
way down and I will throw thee as many more.' But the Jew gathered up
the stones and, binding them on the back of the mule, went his way
without answering a word and left Janshah alone on the mountain-top.
When the Prince found himself deserted, he began to weep and implore
help of Heaven, and thus he abode three days; after which he rose and
fared on over the mountainous ground two month's space, feeding upon
hill-herbs; and he ceased not faring till he came to its skirts and
espied afar off a Wady full of fruitful trees and birds harmonious,
singing the praises of Allah, the One, the Victorious. At this sight he
joyed with great joy and stayed not his steps till, after an hour or
so, he came to a ravine in the rocks, through which the rain torrents
fell into the valley. He made his way down the cleft till he reached
the Wady which he had seen from the mountain-top and walked on therein,
gazing right and left, nor ceased so doing until he came in sight of a
great castle, towering high in air. As he drew near the gates he saw an
old man of comely aspect and face shining with light standing thereat
with a staff of carnelian in his hand, and going up to him, saluted
him. The Shaykh returned his salam and bade him welcome, saying, 'Sit
down, O my son.' So he sat down at the door of the castle and the old
man said to him, 'How camest thou to this land, untrodden by son of
Adam before thee, and whither art thou bound?' When Janshah heard his
words he wept bitterly at the thought of all the hardships he had
suffered and his tears choked his speech. Quoth the Shaykh, 'O my son,
leave weeping; for indeed thou makest my heart ache.' So saying, he
rose and set somewhat of food before him and said to him, 'Eat.' He ate
and praised Allah Almighty; after which the old man besought him
saying, 'O my son, I would have thee tell me thy tale and acquaint me
with thine adventures.' So Janshah related to him all that had befallen
him, from first to last, whereat the Shaykh marvelled with exceeding
marvel. Then said the Prince, 'Prithee inform me who is the lord of
this valley and to whom doth this great castle belong?' Answered the
old man, 'Know, O my son, this valley and all that is therein and this
castle with all it containeth belong to the lord Solomon, son of David
(on both be peace!). As for me, my name is Shaykh Nasr,[FN#545] King of
the Birds; for thou must know that the lord Solomon committed this
castle to my charge,'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Eighth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Shaykh Nasr
pursued, 'Thou must know that the lord Solomon com misted this castle
to my charge and taught me the language of birds and made me ruler over
all the fowls which be in the world; wherefore each and every come
hither once in the twelvemonth, and I pass them in review: then they
depart; and this is why I dwell here.' When Janshah heard this, he wept
sore and said to the Shaykh, 'O my father, how shall I do to get back
to my native land?' Replied the old man, 'Know, O my son, that thou art
near to the mountain Kaf, and there is no departing for thee from this
place till the birds come, when I will give thee in charge to one of
them, and he will bear thee to thy native country. Meanwhile tarry with
me here and eat and drink and divert thyself with viewing the
apartments of this castle.' So Janshah abode with Shaykh Nasr, taking
his pleasure in the Wady and eating of its fruits and laughing and
making merry with the old man, and leading a right joyous life till the
day appointed for the birds to pay their annual visit to the Governor.
Thereupon the Shaykh said to him, 'O Janshah, take the keys of the
castle and solace thyself with exploring all its apartments and viewing
whatever be therein, but as regards such a room, beware and again
beware of opening its door; and if thou gainsay me and open it and
enter there, through nevermore shalt thou know fair fortune.' He
repeated this charge again and again with much instance; then he went
forth to meet the birds, which came up, kind by kind, and kissed his
hands. Such was his case; but as regards Janshah, he went round about
the castle, opening the various doors and viewing the apartments into
which they led, till he came to the room which Shaykh Nasr had warned
him not to open or enter. He looked at the door and its fashion pleased
him, for it had on it a padlock of gold, and he said to himself, 'This
room must be goodlier than all the others; would Heaven I wist what is
within it, that Shaykh Nasr should forbid me to open its door! There is
no help but that I enter and see what is in this apartment; for whatso
is decreed unto the creature perforce he must fulfil.' So he put out
his hand and unlocked the door and entering, found himself before a
great basin; and hard by it stood a little pavilion, builded all of
gold and silver and crystal, with lattice-windows of jacinth. The floor
was paved with green beryl and balas rubies and emeralds and other
jewels, set in the ground-work mosaic-fashion, and in the midmost of
the pavilion was a jetting fountain in a golden basin, full of water
and girt about with figures of beasts and birds, cunningly wrought of
gold and silver and casting water from their mouths. When the zephyr
blew on them, it entered their ears and therewith the figures sang out
with birdlike song, each in its own tongue. Beside the fountain was a
great open saloon with a high dais whereon stood a vast throne of
carnelian, inlaid with pearls and jewels, over which was spread a tent
of green silk fifty cubits in width and embroidered with gems fit for
seal rings and purfled with precious metals. Within this tent was a
closet containing the carpet of the lord Solomon (on whom be peace!);
and the pavilion was compassed about with a vast garden full of fruit
trees and streams; while near the palace were beds of roses and basil
and eglantine and all manner sweet-smelling herbs and flowers. And the
trees bore on the same boughs fruits fresh and dry and the branches
swayed gracefully to the wooing of the wind. All this was in that one
apartment and Janshah wondered thereat till he was weary of wonderment;
and he set out to solace himself in the palace and the garden and to
divert himself with the quaint and curious things they contained. And
first looking at the basin he saw that the gravels of its bed were gems
and jewels and noble metals; and many other strange things were in that
apartment."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Janshah saw many
strange things and admirable in that apartment. Then he entered the
pavilion and mounting the throne, fell asleep under the tent set up
thereover. He slept for a time and, presently awaking, walked forth and
sat down on a stool before the door. As he sat, marvelling at the
goodliness of that place, there flew up from mid sky three birds, in
dove-form but big as eagles, and lighted on the brink of the basin,
where they sported awhile. Then they put off their feathers and became
three maidens,[FN#546] as they were moons, that had not their like in
the whole world. They plunged into the basin and swam about and
disported themselves and laughed, while Janshah marvelled at their
beauty and loveliness and the grace and symmetry of their shapes.
Presently, they came up out of the water and began walking about and
taking their solace in the garden; and Janshah seeing them land was
like to lose his wits. He rose and followed them, and when he overtook
them, he saluted them and they returned his salam; after which quoth
he, 'Who are ye, O illustrious Princesses, and whence come ye?' Replied
the youngest damsel, 'We are from the invisible world of Almighty Allah
and we come hither to divert ourselves.' He marvelled at their beauty
and said to the youngest, 'Have ruth on me and deign kindness to me and
take pity on my case and on all that hath befallen me in my life.'
Rejoined she, 'Leave this talk and wend thy ways'; whereat the tears
streamed from his eyes, and he sighed heavily and repeated these
couplets,
'She shone out in the garden in garments all of green, * With
open vest and collars and flowing hair beseen:
'What is thy name?' I asked her, and she replied, 'I'm she * Who
roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen.'
Of passion and its anguish to her made my moan; * 'Upon a rock,'
she answered, 'thy plaints are wasted clean.'
'Even if thy heart,' I told her, 'be rock in very deed, * Yet
hath God made fair water well from the rock, I
ween.'[FN#547]